Fare-register.



G. F. ROOKE.

FARE REGISTER.

APPLICATION FI'LED on. 9. 1909. RENEWED JULY 5.191s.

1 116111611 Feb. 11, 1919.

Inventor m d I flttorneyf.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE F. ROOKE, F PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO ROOKE AUTOMATIC REGISTER COMPANY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

FARE-REGISTER.

Application filed October 9, 1909, Serial No. 521,810. Renewed July 5, 1918.

the same, to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

The present invention relates to fare registers, and more particularly to fare registers of the portable type, such as forms the subject of Letters Patent, No. 690.079, granted to .me December 31, 1901.

The fare register of said prior patent was adapted to register coins of one denomination only, as for example, nickels. By a subsequent invention which forms the sub1ect of application Serial No. 505,370, filed July 1, 1909, such fare register was adapted to register coins of two different denominations, as for example, nickels and dimes.

In the improved fare register of the application referred to there are two registering counters for registering coins of different denominations, and the construction is such that one of these counters, which may be termed the primary counter, is operated by the coins of both denominations, as for example, both by the nickels and by the dimes, While the other counter, which may be termed the secondary counter, will be operated by only one of the coins, as for example, the clinics. With such a construction the figures on the primary counter will correspond to the total number of coins passed through the machine, while the figures on the secondary counter will correspond to the total number of dimes passed through the machine, and the sum of the figures on the two counters will correspond to the total number of five-cent fares received and registered.

In the improved fare register of said application the primary counter is operated directly from the sliding coin-carriage, and so that said counter will be operated at each to and fro movement of said carriage, and means are provided for determining whether the secondary counter shall or shall not be operated. The means for thus determining whether the secondary counter shall or shall Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 11, 1919.

Serial No. 243,467.

not be operated, and which may be termed selective means, is controlled-by the coins themselves, one of said coins, as for example, the nickel, serving to control said selective means in a way to prevent the open ation of the secondary counter, while the other coin, as for example, the dime, serves to control said selective means in such a way as to cause said secondary counter to be operated.

In the improved fare register referred to the construction was such that if for any cause the sliding carriage was released and permitted to be traveled downward by its actuating spring, without any coin having been inserted in the register or carried downward by the carriage, the secondary counter would nevertheless be operated and registration made thereon the same as though a dime had been passed through the register. Thus, for example, if a nickel were presented to the register and the gripping jaws should fail to hold on to the coin and so that the coin would not be carried through the register, both counters would nevertheless be operated and registration of a dime thus be made, although the conductor would in fact receive but a nickel.

The object of the present invention is to provide means whereby when no coin is passed through the register and where thus what may be termed a. miss occurs, the secondary or dime counter will not be operated, but only the primary or nickel counter, which primary counter will in such fare register always be operated when the sliding carriage moves downward by reason of the direct connection of such counter with the sliding carriage.

In the prior register referred to the selective means is as above stated, controlled by the coins themselves, advantage being taken in this connection of the different diameters of the two coins, nickels and dimes, the register being provided with a pivoted arm or switch member which is adapted to be moved to a certain position by the engagement of aniokel therewith, while by reason of the smaller diameter of the dime such pivoted arm is not moved when a dime is passed by said arm, but instead retains its normal position, and the construction is such that when the pivoted arm is thus not moved lOO from its normal position the secondary or dime counter will, through its actuating lever, be operated, while when said pivoted arm is moved away from 1ts normal pos1- tion, as is the case when a nickel is passed by, said secondary or dime counter will not be operated.

The present invention consists in so constructing and arranging the parts that the pivoted arm or .switch member referred to will be moved from its normal position not only by the passage of a nickel, but also by the passage of a dime, said pivoted armbeing thus moved to two different positions by the dime and nickel respectively, being moved a certain distance and to one posi-.

which it will be moved by a dime, and the position to which it will be moved by a nickel. The invention therefore further consists in so constructing and arranging the parts that the, operating lever for the secondary counter will only be actuated When said pivoted arm or switch member is in one of the three positions referred to, viz., the position to which said arm will be moved by the passage of a dime, and will not be actuated when said pivoted arm is in either of the other two positions referred to, that is, when said pivoted arm is either in its normal position or in the position to which it is moved by the passage of a nickel.

It Will be understood that said pivoted arm or switch member will continue to cccupy its normal position dur'ng the downward movement of the sliding carriage if no coin is carried downward with said carriage. As the operating lever for the secondary counter by the construction of the present invention will not be operated at the downward movement of the sliding C511. riage so long as the pivoted arm or switch member remains in its normal position, it will be seen that with the present construction the secondary or dime counter will not be operated when no coin passes through the register, and that therefore the registration of a miss on said secondary or dime counter is prevented.

The invention further consists of features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the mechanism of a fare register embodying my invention, the easing therefor being omitted.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation looking toward 7 the left in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation corresponding to Fig. 1, but with certain parts broken away or omitted and showing the parts in a diflerentposition as determined by the in sertion of a dime.

Fig. 4 is a rear, elevation corresponding to Fig. 3, but showing the parts in the position which they occupy when the sliding carriage moves downward with nocoin car ried thereby.

Fig. 5v is a rear elevation corresponding to 3, but showing the parts in astill different position when a dime is inserted.

Fig. 6 is a rear elevation corresponding to Fig. 5, but showing the parts in a different position as determined by the insertion of a nickel.

The general construction of the mechanism shown in the drawings. is similar to that shown in my said Patent No. 69() ,O79.v

to which reference may be had. a

1 represents the frame upon which. the several parts are mounted, saidframe haw ing a longitudinal passage extending therethrough, and so that said frame also constitutes the coin-chute, said frame further constituting the guide for the sliding carriage 2. Pivoted to the frame or coin-chute on opposite sides thereof is a swinging rec tangular frame 3, the upper end ief which constitutesa shutter for the upper end of the coin-chute as described in my prior patent referred to. Mountedvon the fr me is a spring-motor 5. motor one end of a connecting strap 6 secured, the other end of said strap being,

connected to a pin 7 on the sliding carriage. As more fully explained in my said patent of prior date, the carriage is moved upward by means of a rack-bar, the inward movement of which rack-bar serves to rotate a crank-wheel, said crank-wheel being connected to the sliding carriage by means of a pitman.

By such construction, when the rack-bar is pushed inward, the crank-wheel will be rotated in a direction to move the sliding carriage upward, and this upward movement of the sliding carriage will, through the strap connection 6, serve to wind up the Spring of the spring-motor 5, and so that when permitted to do so said spring-motor will serve to pull the carriage downward.

The sliding carriage 2 is latched in it; upper position against the pull of the. spring-motor by a latch such as is described in said prior patent, it being. that said latch is adapted to be dis by the insertion of the coin, and so as to thereby release the sliding carriage and per- To the drum of saidm'it the same to be pulled downward by the spring-motor. The release of the carriage by the insertion of a coin is effected by the action of a pivoted tripper. This pivoted tripper is in the form of a bell-crank lever, one arm of which extends across the upper end of the coin-chute in the path of the coin and the other arm of which tripper serves to unlatc'h the latch which holds the carriage in its ra sed position.

The present machine is provided as shown with two counters 11 and 12 for registering coins of two different denominations. the

y counter 11 being what has been termed the primary counter for registering nickels and the counter 12 being the secondary counter for registering dimes. The counter 11 is actuated by a direct gear connection with the sliding carriage and is thus actuated both when a nickel is passed through the machine and also when a dime is passed through. The mechanism for actuating said counter 11, however, forms no part of the present invention and is therefore not shown and need not be described.

The counter 12 is to be actuated only when a dime is passed through the machine and is not to be actuated when a nickel is passed through, and selective mechanism is therefore provided for determining whether said counter shall or shall not be operated, which selective mechanism, together with the mechanism for operating said counter 12, will now be described.

Pivoted to the frame 2 is a pivoted arm or switch member 13 carrying a roll 14. Act-- ing upon said pivoted arm 13 is a spring 15 which acts when free to do so to move the pivoted arm to the left and into the position shown in Fig. 1, and so as to bring the roll 14 into the coin-chute and into the path of either a dime or a nickel passing through said chute. The arrangement is such that the passage of a dime past said roll will serve to move the pivoted arm 13 a certain distance to the right and from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 3, while the passage of a nickel past said roll will, by reason of its larger diameter, serve to move said pivoted arm a greater distance to the right and from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 6.

It will be understood that at the time the coin is thus carried downward past the roll 14: by the action of the spring-motor on the sliding carriage, said coin is firmly grasped by the gripping jaws 16, and so that the coin thus firmly held constitutes in effect a cam, and as such cam acts by its engagement with the roll 14 to force back the pivoted arm or switch 13 and move the same to the right, as above described.

Pivoted on the sliding carriage is an arm 17 Extending through the upper end of said arm 17 is a pin 18 arranged to project on both sides of said arm. The forwardly projecting end of said pin 18 extends into the slot 19 formed in the pivoted arm or switch 13, and said pin 18 is therefore caused, as the sliding carriage moves downwardly, to travel in said slot 19, whatever the position of the pivoted arm 13 may be.

Pivoted to the frame is a lever 20. Projecting from the outer end of said lever is a pin 21 which extends into a slot 22 formed in a lever-arm 23 connected to the shaft 24: of the counter 12. Pivoted to the lever 20 is an upwardly extending bent arm 25, the upper end of which arm is provided with a curved recess 26. A spring 27 acting against a pin 28 projecting from said bent arm 25 tends to move or swing said arm toward the left, the movement of said bent arm to the left under the action of said spring being limited by a pin 29 projecting from the frame or from a bracket secured to the frame into the path of said bent arm.

Pivoted to the bent arm 25 is a dog 30 having a tail 31 which extends between the fixed pin 29 and a pin 32 projecting from said bent arm. The upper end of said dog is preferably provided with a curved recess and said dog is also provided at its lower end with a projection or stop 33.

The operation of the parts and devices above described is as follows: With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1, which is the normal position of the parts, it will be seen that the slot 19 in the pivoted arm or switch 13 extends downward to the left of the bent arm 25. When, however, a dime is inserted in the register and is carried downward by the sliding carriage under the action of the spring-motor, such dime will come in contact with the roll 14 on the pivoted arm 13 and as the dime is at the time firmly grasped by the gripping jaws, such dime will, as above stated, act as a cam to force back or move to the right said pivoted arm and so as to bring the same into the position shown in Fig. 3, and with said pivoted arm in this position it will be seen that the slot 19 in said arm is in line with the upper end of the bent arm 25. As the carriage continues to move downward, therefore, the forwardly projecting end of the pin 18 will be caused to travel downward in the slot 19, while the rearwardly projecting end of said pin will be brought into engagement with the upper end of the bent arm 25. As now the carriage still continues to move downward a corresponding downward movement will be imparted to the bent arm 25 and through said arm to the lever 20. The downward movement of said lever 20 will actuate the lever 23 and thus operate the counter 12 to make one registration thereon.

When now a nickel is inserted in the revister and is carried downward by the sliding carriage under the action of the spring-motor such nickel acting as a cam will, when it comes in contactwiththe roll 14 on the pivoted arm 13 .serve to move said pivoted arm a greater distance to the right and into the position shown inFig. 6. With said pivoted arm in this position it will be seen that the slot 19 in said arm extends downward to the right of the bent arm .25, and so that as the carriage continues to move downwardthe rearwardly projecting end of the pin 18 will not engage the upper end of the bent arm 25, but will be carried past'the end of said arm to the right thereof. The further downward movement of the carriage,

therefore, in this case will not serve to impart any downward movement to the bent arm 25 and consequently the counter 12 will not be operated.

With the construction shown, however, the rearwardly projecting end of the pin 18 will engagev the upper end of the pivoted dog 30 and so that the continued downward movement of-the carriage will serve to swing said pivoted dog a shortdistance to the right and into the position shown in Fig. 6. The swinging movement of said pivoted dog referred to serves to. impart a slight further movement to the right of the pivoted slotted arm 18 and so as thereby to relieve the nickel from the pressure of the roll 14.

As stated above, when the pivoted arm 13 is in its normalposition, as shown in Fig. 1, the slot 19 said arm extends downward to the left of the bent arm 25. If for any reason the sliding carriage is moved downward without'carrying any coin therewith, it is obvious that the position of said pivoted arm will not be changed or affected, but that instead said pivoted arm will re main in its normal position. As the carriage continues to move downward, therefore, the rearwardly projecting end of the pin 18 will not engage the upper end of the bent arm 25, but will instead "be carried downward past said arm and to the left thereof. Consequently in such case no downward movement will be imparted to said bent arm and the counter 12 will not be operated.

As will be seen, with the construction above described the pivoted arm 13 may occupy any one of three different positions, viz., its normal position, the position to which it will be moved by the passage of a dime, and the position to which it'will be moved by the passage of a nickel. It will be further seen that when said pivoted arm occupies its normal position the counter 12 will not be operated and that when said pivoted arm occupies the position to which. it is moved by the passage of a nickel, said counter 12 will likewise not be operated, and thatit is only when said pivoted arm occupies the position to which it is moved by the passage of a dime that said counter 12 will be operated.

As the counter will thus not be operated when said pivoted arm occupies its normal position, it will be seen that when the sliding carriage is moved downward without.

any coin being carried thereby, or in other words, when what has been-termed a ,iniss occurs, there will be no registration onthe counter 12 as the result of such movement of the sliding carriage.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A fare register having in combination a primary counter for registering coinsof one denomination, a. secondary counter for registering coins of another denomination,

means for operating said secondary counter, and controlling means for causing said operating means to come into action .when a coin of corresponding denomination isinserted and to be inactive when no coin is inserted.

2. A fare register having inicombination.

another denomination, means actuated by, said coin-carrying carriage for operating said primary counter when a coin of corresponding denomination is inserted, means actuated by said carriage for operating said secondary counter, and controlling means for causing said last-mentioned operating means to come into "action when a. coinof the other denomination is inserted and to. be inactive when no coin is inserted.

4. In a, fare register, the combination of a registering counter, and a switch adapted to be moved whenever a coin is passed through said register to determine whether said counter shall or shall. not be operated, but adapted to retain its normal position when no coin is passed through the register.

5. In a fare register, the combination of a registering counter, and a switch adapted to be moved to difierent positions by coins of difl'erent diameters to determine whether said counter shall or shall not be operated, but adapted to retain its normal position when no coin is passed through the register.

6. In a fare register, the combination of a registering counter,and a switch adapted to be moved to one position by a coin of one denomination to cause the operation of said counter and adapted to be moved'to another position to prevent the operation of said counter, said switch being also adapted to retain its normal position and thus prevent the operation of said counter when no coin is passed through the register.

7. In a fare register, the combination of a carriage adapted to receive a coin, a registering counter adapted to be operated by said carriage, and a switch adapted to be moved whenever a. coin is carried by said carriage, but adapted to retain its normal position when no coin is carried by said carriage.

8. In a fare register, the combination of a carriage adapted to receive a coin, a registering counter adapted to be operated by said carriage, and a switch adapted to be moved to different positions by coins of different diameters, but adapted to retain its normal position when no coin is carried by said carriage.

9. In a fare register, the combination of a carriage adapted to receive a coin, a registering counter adapted to be operated by said carriage, and a switch adapted to be moved to one position by a coin of one denomination to cause the operation of said counter and adapted to be moved to another position by a coin of a different denomination to prevent the operation of said counter, said switch being also adapted to retain its normal position toprevent the operation of said counter when no coin is carried by said carriage.

10. In a fare register, the combination of a carriage, a. registering counter, a detachable connection between said carriage and said counter, and a switch for controlling said detachable connection, said switch being adapted to prevent connection between said carriage and said counter when no coin is passed through said register.

11. In a fare register, the combination of a carriage adapted to receive a coin, a registering counter adapted to be operated by said carriage, a detachable connection between said carriage and said counter, and a switch adapted to be operated by said coin for controlling said detachable connection,

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for said switch being adapted to prevent connection between said carriage and said counter when no coin is carried by said carriage.

12. In a fare register, the combination of a carriage adapted to receive a coin, a registering counter adapted to be operated by said carriage, a detachable connection be tween said carriage and said counter, and a switch adapted to be operated bv a coin of one denomination to connect said carriage and said counter and adapted to be operated by a coin of another denomination to prevent connection between said carriage and said counter, said switch being also adapted to prevent connection between said carriage and counter when no coin is carried by said carriage.

13. In a fare register, the combination of a carriage provided with a. gripping device for gripping a coin, a registering counter adapted to be operated by said carriage and a switch adapted to be moved by said coin to determine whether said counter shall or shall not be operated, said switch being adapted to retain its normal position when no coin is carried by said carriage.

1- In a fare register, the combination of a carriage provided with a gripping device for gripping a coin, a registering counter adapted to be operated by said carriage, and a switch adapted to be moved by said coin to different positions by coins of different diameters, but adapted to retain its normal position when no coin is carried by said carriage.

15. In a fare register, the combination of a carriage provided with a gripping device for gripping a coin, a registering counter adapted to be operated by said carriage, and a switch adapted to be moved to one position by a coin of one denomination to cause the operation of said counter and adapted to be moved to another position by a coin of a different denomination to prevent the operation of said. counter, said switch being also adapted to retain its normal position to prevent the operation of said counter when no coin is carried by said carriage.

GEORGE F. ROOKE. Witnesses:

W. H. THURs'roN, J. H. THURSTON.

five cents each. by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

